Developers of Cambridge Farms, a subdivision proposed for Clinton, apparently are going to sue Laurens County because their preliminary plat has been turned down.
That's according to an agenda notice for a closed session that the County Council has proposed for Sept. 3. Discussuibn of employment of and compensation for a County Administrator also is on the executive session agenda -- Council is scheduled to talk about the same thing in closed session again on Sept. 4.
These closed-to-the-public meetings are scheduled for 4:30 pm in the Hillcrest Complex West, 100 Hillcrest Square, administrative conference room. Public bodies cannot, by state law, make any decisions or reach a consensus within executive session -- all action must be ratified in open session.
Melissa D. Ferqueron is the Interim County Administrator. She was the assistant under Thomas Higgs, who resigned his position to become the administrator of Colleton County (Walterboro).
The Laurens County Planning Commission was considering Cambridge Farms -- which originally had proposed annexation and zoning into the City of Clinton -- and apparently has turned down the preliminary plat, based on the County Subdivision Ordinance. The Clinton Planning Commission asked the developers to re-submit plans that would decrease the housing density and widen the streets, before the subdivision could be considered for annextion.
Cambridge Farms is proposed on land between Ingles and the Merrye Oaks subdivision, and has opposition from residents not in the Clinton city limits around Westminster Presbyterian Church.
The Sept. 3 closed session agenda items, in addition to discussion of a county administrator, says this, "for the specific purpose of the receipt of legal advice subject to the attorney-client privilege regarding threatened litigation concerning the denial of the Prelimninary Plat for a proposed subdivision (Cambridge Farms)."
Laurens County is currently within a 6-month moratorium on the development of cluster subdivisions within the county, which the Planning Commission works to close loopholes with the subdivision ordinance permitting these types of developments, under certain conditions.
The moratorium came after Cambridge Farms was originally proposed for development.
Cambridge Farms' relationship with Clinton here.
County Planning Commission's Aug. 19 agenda packet, including July 15 minutes where Cambridge Farms discussion was tabled (4 people opposed) - the Technical Review Committee approved the subdivision, with some modifications here.
